Telescoping pool and billiard cue bridge

ABSTRACT

A bridgestick having a telescoping handle and a quick disconnect bridge. The handle incorporates internal locking elements to prevent separation of the telescoping segments. Each joint between segments includes an internal stiffener that minimizes deflection of the handle when fully extended. The bridge includes a hollow receptacle for receiving an end of the handle. The receptacle and handle utilize a pin and socket arrangement to removably connect the bridge to the handle.

SPECIFIC DATA RELATED TO THE INVENTION

This invention claims the priority of U.S. provisional application No.60/592,680 filed Jul. 30, 2004.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the game of pool or billiards and, moreparticularly, to a telescoping bridge for such game.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,214 issued to the assignee of the present inventiondescribes a telescoping handle for a golf ball retriever that has animproved method for preventing separation of the multiple sectionsforming the retriever handle. While this handle has been found to bevery practical for the average golf ball retriever, it has been foundthat the weight of the retriever handle causes the retriever to assume abent or arcuate shape making it difficult to accurately position the endof the retriever containing the golf ball gathering device onto a golfball that is being retrieved. U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,799 describes atelescoping bridge for billiards using a special bridge support andwhich is believed to have the same bending attributes as the abovedescribed retriever handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may behad to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is simplified view of a telescoping bridge in accordance with oneform of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one tubular section of the handle of thebridge of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of a sleeve used in the bridge handle;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the sleeve of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a joint in the telescopingbridge handle;

FIG. 6 us a rear view of the bridge support of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded side view of the support of FIG. 6 with adjacenthandle details.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Applicant has found that telescoping handles, when positioned in anextended state, could be made stiffer and avoid many of the bendingproblems associated with prior telescoping handles using a smallstiffener, or plug, at the juncture of each joint of the handle.

Before describing the particular invention disclosed herein, it shouldbe noted that the entire disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,214 isincorporated herein by reference and that some of the drawings of the'214 patent are utilized to illustrate the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the bridge 10 includes a grip portion 16, atelescoping extension 12 and a cue support 14. The handle 12 comprises aplurality of telescope segments or tubes 18, each of which has asequentially smaller diameter and sequentially shorter length. Thediameter may be about 0.75 inch for the outermost tube 18 (C in FIG. 1)and about 0.375 inch for the innermost tube 18 (A in FIG. 1). The tube18 lengths may vary from about 24 inches to about 12 inches. Since eachsection may have less than one inch of overlap, the extended handletends to exhibit substantial flexing. Accordingly, referring to FIGS. 2and 5, it can be seen that the handle 12 is modified by incorporating astiffener, or a plug 11, which extends into an end portion of eachsection or tube 18 of the handle. The plug 11 is positioned in an end 20of the associated tube 18, such as tube A, remaining within an adjacentlarger diameter tube, such as tube B, when extended, for example, asshown in FIG. 1. Each of the plugs 11 has an outside diameter which fitssnugly within the inside diameter of the associated tube 18. As shown inFIG. 5, the length 31 of the plug 11 is at least as long as, and may begreater than, an overlap length 33 of the associated tube A and theadjacent larger diameter tube B when in the extended state. In apreferred embodiment, the plug 11 has a length of about 1.25 inches.However, different length plugs 11 may be used at the differentintersections depending on the diameter of the handle section or tube18.

The plug 11 may further include a cap 13 which has an outside diameter21 that is approximately the same as the outside diameter 23 of theassociated tube 18 so that the plug 11 fits into the tube 18 but isstopped from slipping further into the tube 18 by means of the edges ofthe cap 13 contacting the edges of the tube 18 at the end 20 when theplug 11 is inserted into the tube 18. FIG. 5 shows how the cap 13 has adiameter 21 sufficient to prevent the plug 11 from penetrating orslipping into the tube 18.

Each plug 11 is also provided with a small slot 15 for receiving thebent element 32, or crimped portion, in each of the associated sleeves,or C-clips 30. The slot 15 is necessary to allow the element 32 topenetrate through the slot 34 in the tube 18 so that the C-clip 30 isnot able to move with respect to the tube 18 once the multiple tubeshave been assembled into a single telescoping handle 12 as shown in FIG.1.

In an aspect of the invention, the plug 11 is formed from a polymer,such as plastic or nylon. The material of the plug 11 is not criticalbut should be of a type that will provide rigidity so that the plug 11itself cannot be deformed. What applicant has found is that by using ashort plug 11 at each joint 17, the handle 12 acquires a high degree ofstiffness.

FIG. 6 illustrates a rear view of one form of cue support 14 commonlyreferred to as a bridge, that may be used in the present invention. Theparticular shape or design of the support 14 may be varied but typicallyincorporates a plurality of slots 40 that are used to support a cuestick at different heights. The support 14 also has openings 42 forweight reduction. The combination of telescoping handle 12 and cuesupport 14 is referred to herein as a bridgestick.

Combining FIG. 6 with the exploded edge view of FIG. 7, the support 14has a hollow receptacle 44 for receiving an end 46 of handle 12. The end46 includes a pair of opposing pins 48 which fit into mating axiallyoriented slots 50 of receptacle 44. The support 14 is latched to handle12 by rotating end 46 so that pins 48 are positioned in circumferentialrecesses 52 on opposite sides of receptacle 44. A spring 54 inserted inreceptacle 44 exerts a force to maintain pins 48 in recesses 52 toprevent separation of the support 14 from handle 12. The slots 50 andrecesses 52 form an L-shaped receptacle for the pins 48. While thisarrangement provides for a secure and quick connection between handle 12and support 14, it will be recognized that other connection means may beused such as, for example, spring loaded pins 48 and mating holes inreceptacle 44.

The handle grip 16 is preferably tapered and formed of a polishedmaterial such as wood but may be of a polymer. However, the preferenceis to have a grip of a size, shape and material comparable to aconventional cue stick grip area with one of the handle sections 18seated within the grip 16.

1. A bridgestick having a telescoping handle comprising a plurality oftelescoping hollow tubes characterized by relative sliding stiffnessbetween each of the tubes and having a similar resistance to rotation,the handle comprising a holding mechanism comprising a one piece partialsleeve sized to fit snugly about a respective one of the telescopingtubes, the sleeve having a crimped portion extending radially inwardover an axial extent of the sleeve intermediate opposite circumferentialends thereof, the one of the tubes having an axially extending firstslot adjacent a first end thereof, the first slot having axial andcircumferential dimensions corresponding to the crimped portion of thesleeve for receiving the crimped portion when the sleeve is positionedon the one of the tubes; another of the telescoping tubes positioned insliding engagement over the one of the tubes and having one endterminating in a necked down portion having an inner diameter largerthan an outer diameter of the one of the tubes and smaller than adiameter of the sleeve when the sleeve is positioned on the one of thetubes whereby the one end of the another one of the tubes cannot passover the sleeve on the one of the tubes; a plurality of stiffenershaving an outside diameter sized to fit snugly within an inside diameterof an associated tube, each stiffener positioned in an end of theassociated tube remaining within an adjacent larger diameter tube whenin an extended state and having an axial length at least as long as anoverlap length of the associated tube and the adjacent larger diametertube when in the extended state; and a bridge removeably coupled to anend of the handle.
 2. The bridgestick of claim 1 wherein the stiffenerfurther comprises a second axially extending slot having axial andcircumferential dimensions corresponding to the crimped portion of thesleeve for receiving the crimped portion when the stiffener ispositioned in the one of the tubes and the sleeve is positioned on theone of the tubes with the crimped portion extending through the firstslot.
 3. The bridgestick of claim 2 wherein the axial length of thestiffener is greater than the overlap length.
 4. The bridgestick ofclaim 3 wherein the stiffener includes a cap having an outside diametersubstantially the same as the associated tube outside diameter toprevent the stiffener from slipping further into the end of theassociated tube.
 5. The bridgestick of claim 4 wherein the stiffener isformed from a polymer.
 6. The bridgestick of claim 1 wherein the bridgehas a central hollow extension adapted for receiving an end of thehandle, the extension having at least one L-shaped slot, the end of thehandle including at least one radially extending pin adapted for fittingin to the slot and for locking the handle to the bridge when the handleis rotated to position the pin in a circumferential portion of theL-shaped slot.
 7. The bridgestick of claim 6 and including a springpositioned in the hollow extension for reacting against the end of thehandle.
 8. A bridgestick comprising a telescoping handle and areleasable bridge, the handle having one end adapted for coupling to thebridge, including a radially extending pin fixed to the one end of thehandle, the bridge having a central hollow extension adapted forreceiving an end of the handle, the extension having at least oneL-shaped slot for receiving the radially extending pin, the pin beingadapted for sliding into the slot and for locking the handle to thebridge when the handle is rotated to position the pin in acircumferential portion of the L-shaped slot.
 9. The bridgestick ofclaim 8 and including a spring positioned in the hollow extension forreacting against the end of the handle.
 10. The bridgestick of claim 9wherein the spring comprises a coil spring.